Variable gearing



No. 611,378. i Patented Sept. 27,1898.

n. N. DYER.

VARIABLE GEARING.

(Application fileq Apr. 23. 1898.

we Model.) 3 She isSheet 2.

No. sums. "Patented Sept. 27, I898.

- R. N. DYER.

VARIABLE GEARING.

(Application filed. Apr. 23, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. srnorrrcarronf rmm garter Letters retentiv 611,378, dated septmberaadees. "1

PAr NT QFFICE- RICHARD N. nrna or nnsronnncn, NEW J RSEYQ ARIA whe filedA aze, 189 8.

- To all whom it mayconcernr ..:Be it known that I,1RICHARD N. DYER, acitizen of'the-IInitedStates, residing in the township of East'jOrange,county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, haveinvented acertain new anduseful Improvement in Variable Gearing, of which the following is aspecificationrfl l. The object I have in view is to producea simple andeffective gearing capable of adj ustmen't to varying speed orpowerrelations which will transmit motion positively at all times, evenduring the periods of adjustment. This I accomplish by constructing oneelement of the gearing with two or more adjoining toothed gear-wheels.of diiferent diameters, but having coincident portions at which theshifting from one speed to another is ef- :fected. If the lateralshifting of one element of the gearing with relation-to the otherelejrjinent is efiected while the engagement of the .f "two elements ofthe gearing is within the limits of the coincident portions of twoadjoining gears, the power will be transmitted from one element of thegearing to the other positively and without break. 7

In the preferred construction of in ygearin g I place side by side twoor more concentric gear-wheels, (thenumber being determined by thenumber of changes in speed or power desired for any particular purposesuch gearwheels being of difierent diameters to give the di iferentspeed or power relations desired Between each concentric gear-wheel andthe next j as adjoining concentric gearwheel I place an eccentric or camgear-wheel,which is coincident at diiferent portions of its perimeterwith both of the concentric gear-wheels, and between these portions,which are coincident with the adjoining concentric gears of diiferentsize, the eccentric gearhas two cam=surfaces which connect suchportions. In other words, considering the relation of aneccentric or camgear to two. adjoining concentric gear-wheels diifering in size, theperimeter of the eccentric'gear has two concentrieportions, onecoincident with the smaller gear-wheel andthe other coincidentwith thelarger gear-wheel,

l and between these concentric portions the occentric gear has twocam-surfaces which connect the concen trio portions of its perimeter,

neriSingfnOm the smaller wheel to the larger ceAR ho:

seen in. 673,537. (no mddehi wheel andthe other falling fromtth e larger:wheel. to the ,smaller wheel. The division of:

Jthe'perimet'er of the eccentric gear-wheel between the two concentricand two cam portions'may be equal or unequal-=71. e,-,.each may occupyone-quarter the whole perimeter or a greater space may be given to theconcentheir teeth registering throughout coincident portions or arebuilt together as a single structure'and form oneelement of the gear-.

ing, such element being mounted directly upon or sleeved upon thedrivingor the driven shaft. The other element of the gearing isa toothed wheel.carried by an arm or frame swung upon another shaft parallel with thefirst shaft, such toothed wheel engaging with the wheels of the firstelement and adapted by means of its swinging support to move toward oraway from the axis of the first cle 'ment to accommodate itself to thedifferent diameters of the wheels of the first element. Motion istransmitted between the toothed wheel of the second element and theshaft upon which it. is supported by any suitable means which willpermit the swinging movement, as by gear-wheels,a chaimand sprocket-Wheels or other device. Either element of the gear maybe the drivingelement and either may be arranged to beshifted laterally, so as tocause the Wheel of the second element to be transferred from one'of theconcentric gears to another over one of the cam-surfacesfof an eccentricgear. 'lhislateral shifting may be, eifected by the power itself througha-suitable cam or by the direct throw of alcver.

To 'maintainthc toothedwheel of the second element in engagement withthe toothed concentricfand eccentric wheels of the first element of the.gearing, Iprovide adjoining thewheels of the first element and turn-.ing therewith another set of similar concentric and "eccentric wheelshavingtoothed or smooth surfaces, but preferably the. latter,

and with this seconds'et of concentric and of the'engaging toothed wheelof the second ment of the smooth wheels the operative enview of thesame.

vertical section taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of theshifting camde-velsmooth eccentric wheels of the first element I of thegearing, and Fig. 7 is a plan view illustions, as already explained andas illustrated;

- first element of the gearing is an; arm H car- ,ing, so that themovement 'of thisholdi'ng- "wheel away from the axis of the firstelement- "illustrations of any means for applying power element of thegearing is composed of a set arm H, projecting over the first element of.by an intermediate gear K, carried by the arm eccentric wheels engagesa wheel on an arm extending from or connectedavith the swinging frame ofthe second element ofthegearof the gearing can only be accomplished by acorresponding movement toward that axis element of the gearing. By aproper adj ustgagement between-the two elements of. gearing is thusmaintained. The toothed. and smooth wheels of the second element of thegearing also look the gearing against lateral shifting except at the,coincid'entportionsof the gears of the first element.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a plan view illustrating avariable gearing embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is ajside Fig. 3-is avertical sec: tion taken, on line 3 3 inFig. 1. Fig. 4: is' a oped.Fig.- 6is an end elevation illustrating a different adjustment ofthetoothed and in Figs. 2 and 3. These concenti' and eccentric gears aremounted on a sleeve c,"splined on the shaft A and turning therewith, butca- 'pable of longitudinal movement thereon. Mounted on thesame sleeveare a' similar's'et of concentric andmccentric smooth wheels 0 D E F G,and between the sets of toothed and smooth wheel ll s a weight (I-tobalance the wheels. Upon the shaft B is a sleeve 11 capable of turningon the shaft, but held against longitudinal movement. This sleevecarries an the gearing, and mounted on that arm is the toothed wheel I,engaging the concentricand eccentric gears C D E FG. The wheel I isgeared with a wheel J, keyed on the shaft B II". Projecting from thesleeve H under the rying a smooth wheel L, engaging the concentricandeccentric smooth wheels 0' D"'E- F G and serving to maintain theoperative engagement ofthe wheel I andjalso cooperating with the wheel Ito prevent the shifting of thegearingexcept at the coincident portionsof the gears.

In the construction illustrated the first ele ment of the gear isshifted laterally. This is "accomplished by mounting upon the sleevec acam wheel M, having on opposite sides of its circumference an. initialstraight portion e, two inclined portions f and g, and intermediatestraight portions h. (See Fig. 5.) With this cam engage the arms of afork N, which fork is sleeved on a' turning, shaft '2', so as to have afree longitudinal movement. on said shaft, but held by a spline so as.to turn with the shaft. The arms of the fork rest normally 1 in slotsin. a comb 0, these slots being the proper distance apart for the threeadjust me'ntsof the gearing which are illustrated. The shaft 21 isturned in one direction by a spring j, so as to throw the fork normallyinto engagement with the slots of .the comb. The fork is. moved by meansof a handle k. In

order to shift the gearing, thefo'rk isrocked by its handle-so as to bedisengaged from the comb and is'then shifted laterally until the forkengages thenext set of slots in the comb.

' Oneof the arms of the fork will ride on the periphery of the cam-wheelM until the straight portion act the cam is reached, when the forkwilldrop into the comb, and that arm ofthe fork will then engage theincline f on one side of the cam, shifting the first element of thegearing so asto bring an eccentric gear intomesh with the toothed wheelof thesecond.

element of the gearing. While this toothed wheel is rising or' fallingon the eccentric gear the straight portion hot the cam will be incontact with the arm of the fork. The coincidentportion of the gearingbeing reached, the inclineg of the cain will complete the lateralmovement. The teeth of the comb should have a sufiicient length topermit the lateral Instead of providing acani movementto effect thelateral shifting of the gearing and utilizing thepower to do thework inshifting,

the shifting may be done directly by a handlever, as illustrated inFig.7, injw'hichthe sleeve .cisw prolidQfil y th fianges Z m, betweenwhich is a collar n,;connected byf'a yoke with a sliding block P, whosemovement is effected movement of the fork only when the arms of the forkare completely disengagedfrom the cam.

by a handle 0, which handle ispivoted'to the .1

block and works in the teeth of-a comb 0'.

As already stated,.the toothed wheel I of I the second element'ofthegearing may be connected with the shaft 13 by any suitable means whichwill permit the swinging movement. In Fig. 6 is illustrated the directmeshing of the gear I with the gear J on the shaft B. In this case thegear I' and smooth wheel L are shown as placed a quarter ofa revolutionapart instead'of a half a revolution. This makes it necessary that theeccentric'azoothed, 4 andsmooth wheels of the first element of the v lgearing should be placed'a quarter of a'revo I-even closer together andthe shaft B brought lution apart. The wheels I and L may be closerto theshaft A, the eccentric, toothed, and smoothwheels beingproperly'adjusted with relation to each other and to the wheels I and L,so that the movement of the wheels I and'L toward and away from theshaft A shall .beequal and opposite. IO

What I'cl'aim =is 1; A'vari'able gem'lraving cooperating gear 7 wheelelements, one of such elements being provided with toothed wheels ofdifferentsizes having coincident portions at whichthe adjustment fromone speed to another takes place, s.ubstantially as setforth.

2. A variable gear having cooperating gear- .wheel elements and inwhichone of such 'ele-v ments is provided with two or more concentricgear-wheelsof different diameters, and means v for transferring theengaging wheel of the other element of the gear from one of the conl theconcentric gear-wheels to the other withfrom the axis of the first e1out interruption in the transmission of power through the gearing,substantially as set forth; at. In a variable gear, the combinationofone element of the gearing provided with gearwheels of diilerent sizesrotating together and having coincident portions,with' the otherelem'c-nt of the'gearing provided with a toothedwheel engaging the gearsof the first element and mounted so as to move toward and'away ement,substantially'as set forth. n

5; In a variable gear,the combination of one element of the gearingprovided with gearwheels of different sizes rotating together and havingcoincident portions,with the other element of the'gearing provided witha toothed wheel engaging the gears of the first element and mounted soas to move toward and away from the axisof the first element, and means"for eifecting a relative lateral shifting of the elements of the gear atthe coincident portions, substantially as set forth. a 6. In a variablegear,the combination of one element provided with two or more concentricgear-wheels of different diameters and one or more intermediateeccentric gear-wheels, all rotating together,the eccentric gear-wheelshaving'portions coincident-with the adjoining concentric gear-wheels andintermediate cam portions connecting the coincident portions, with theother element of the gear provided with a toothed wheel engaging thegears toward and away'from the axis ofthe first clc ment, substantiallyasset forth.

"7, In a variable gearing, the combination ofyoneclement providedwith anumber of year-wheels of difierentsize's mounted to turn togetherandhaving coincident portions, of the other element provided with. atoothed wheel mounted so as to move toward and away from the axis=of thefirst element, and meansformaintaining the engagement of the toothed.wheels of thejt-wo elements, snbstgtntially asset forth.

8. In a variable gear,the combination of one element-providedwithgear-wheelsof diiferent' diameters having coincident portions ro-.tating together and also provided with another set ofsimilarly-arranged wheels, with the second element of the gearing havinga toothed wheel engaging the toothed wheelsof the first setand mounted"so as to move tow'ardand away from the axis of the firstfl element andprovided with anotherwh'eel engaging the second's'et of wheels of thefirst element and maintaining the engagement between the two elements,substantially as set forth.

of one element provided with gear-wheels'of different diameters havingcoincident portions and provided with a second set of wheelsinlila'rlyarran gerLnwith. thei secondr'eleamm of the gearing having atoothed wheel mounted on a swinging frame, and. another wheel mounted onthe same frame and engaging the second'set of Wheels of the firstelement in such manner as't-o maintain the operative engagement of thetwo elements,substan tially as set forth. i

10. In a variable'gearing, the combination of one eleinentprovided withtwo or more con-. centric gear-wheels and one or more intermediateeccentric gear-wheels having portions coincident with thei oonoentricgear-wheels and cam portions connecting the coincident portions, andalso provided with a second set of wheels similarly arranged, with thesecond element of the gearing havinga toothed wheel with the concentricand eccentricwheels of the first element, and also provided with a wheelmounted on the swinging frame engag-v ing the second set of wheels of Ithe first ele- I ment and maintaining the engagement of the twoelements, substantially as set forth.

different diameters having coincident poi"- tions,with the secondelement provided with,

and away from the axis of the firstelement,

laterally while the engagement between the two elements is at thecoincidentportions of the wheels of t as set forth.

of the first element and mounted upon aswinging frame so as to becapable of movement,

12. In a variable gcnring, the combination 9. In a variable gearing, thecombination iro mounted in a swinging frame and engaging 11:,

11. In a variable gearing, the combination I of one element providedwith gear-wheels of a toothcd wheei eugaging the wheels of the Y firstelement and, inounted'to move toward and a cam arranged to move thefirstelement p 30 he first element, substantially ofoneelementprevidedwith gear-wheels of duee the lateral shifting, substantially. asset 10 different diameters having coincident perforth. 4 l tiensaudmounted to move laterally, with Thisspeeification signed andwitnessed this the secoudheleuilent'i havillllg fia toolthed whee; 21stday of April, 1898. engaging is any; e e s 0 :t e 1'81 6 ement an Tihpunted tompve towand and away from the I RICHARD axis of the firstelement, a cam for shifting Witnesses:

the first elementlaterally, and a fork eng'ag- S. 0. EDMONDS,

ing a comb-plate acting" on the cam to pro- JNo. R. TAYLOR.

